Switch position indicators



Jan. 22, 1957 A. F. HOPKINS, J-R 2,778,903

SWITCH POSITION INDICATORS Filed April 23, 1954 l 1 p I J3 v WWW i 12 Fg 2 I 3 2 I r Wil 1 in" Jul.

SJ m hi1 M8 F 4 5% I I 59 M Q IE INVENTOR 5 2 fllberz F Hop/(m fl? I 5 YWax/za AGEN T 1 I 2,778,903 pat re d Jan. 22, 1957 2,778,903 SWITCHPosrrIoN INDICATORS Albert F. Hopkins, 112, Alexandria, Va. ApplicationApril 23, 1954, Serial No. 425,340 3 Claims. (01. 200-161 (Granted underTitle 35,U. S. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein maybe manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United Statesfor governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royaltythereon, in accordance with the provisions of 35 United States Code(1952) section 266.

This invention relates to electric switches and more holes arepositioned tocoincide with the screws used to particularly to indicatorsfor determining the position of such electric switches.

Heretofore indicating means for showing whether a switch was in the onor ofi position have been pripaint applicants invention has many of theadvantages of the light bulb indicator and the added advantages ofsimple mechanical construction and ease of installation.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive switchposition indicator.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switch positionindicator that is simple and easy to install.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switch positionindicator adapted to be utilized with the standard household lightswitch.

Another object is to provide a switch position indicator adapted to beutilized with the standard household light switch faceplate.

A further object of this invention is to provide a purely mechanicalvisual indicator for electric switches.

Very often it is desirable to have adjacent an electric switch a visualindication of whether the switch is in the on or 0E position. This isparticularly true in applications in which the device controlled by theswitch cannot be directly seen or heard.

This invention provides a switch indicator of extremely simpleconstruction capable of being fitted directly over the face of thestandard household light switch faceplate. Furthermore it provides aslidable indicator, directly actuated by the switch lever, which may beused to indicate by color either the on or off position of a switch. The

indicator lends itself to quick installation and requires nomodification of the faceplate.

Other uses and advantages of the invention will become apparent uponreference to the specification and drawings.

Figure 4 shows a front view of the indicator sliding member.

A slide holder member 1 is adapter to be supported on a switch faceplate by means of screw holes 2. These attach the faceplate of astandard household light switch. The distance between the holes of astandard faceplate is substantiallyuniform throughout the United Statesand is-equal to 2% inches Around'holes 2 are counterbored or depressedportions 3, of holder 1. These depressions permit the free'passag'e ofslider 7 over the heads of ordinary screws used to hold the indicatorand faceplate to the switch. p I e h I As best: shown in Figure 3 holderlincludes aperture 6 which allows free movement of the switch lever withrespect to the holder. -Holder l'further includes colored areas 8 whichserve to give visual indication of the position'of the switch lever.These sections may be any color, preferably red, and this coloring maybe applied in any well known manner. A form of phosphorescent paint maybe used in situations in which it is desirable to utilize applicantsinvention in unlighted places.

Slider 7 is positioned adjacent holder 1 and retained in slidingengagement with the holder by means of crimped or turned over edges 9.All four edges of holder 1 may be crimped over to retain slider 7 butmerely crimping edges 9 is obviously suflicient to retain the slideragainst the holder.

Slider 7 includes aperture 11 which coincides with a portion of aperture6 in holder 1. Aperture 11 permits the slider to be slipped over aswitch lever and causes sliding motion to be imparted to the slider uponmanipulation of the lever. Slits 12 in slider 7 permit the colored areas8 to be seen by an observer when the slider is in one of its'twopositions corresponding to either the on or off position of the switchlever. When the switch lever is in the other position the areas 8 arecovered by the solid portions of the slider 7. It is generally preferredthat the red indications will be showing when the switch is in the up oron" position, as illustrated in Figure 1. However it; is apparent thatby merely unscrewing the v indicator and turning it upside .down the redareas would be visible to an observer when the switch lever is in thelower or off position.

The indicator may be constructed of any suitable light weight materialsuch as aluminum, plastic, cardboard, etc. It is simple to manufactureand may be used with any standard switch faceplate. The overalldimensions of the embodiment constructed by applicant are, length 3inches, and width 1 /2 inches.

If so desired one or both of slits 12 may be omitted. When either theupper slit or both slits 12 are omitted from. the slider the areas 8 maybe of different colors would be provided with viewing apertures.

it will be apparent that the embodiments shown are only exemplary andthat various modifications can be made in construction and arrangementwithin the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A switch position indicator adapted to be placed over the faceplateof a standard lever type household light switch comprising a fiatrectangular holder member having an elongated rectangular'centeraperture for receiving the switch lever, said holder member havingcounterbored holes positioned to coincide with the screw holes in saidfaceplate, the longer edges of said holder member being folder over toprovide spaced channels, color-ed indicia on a portion of said holdermember and a rectangular slidermemb erh-aving'ar centrally locatedrectangular ap erture of such dimensions as to closely engage the baseof the lever of said switch, the edges ofthe longer sides ofsaidi'slider'member being retainedin said spaced channels, saidslidermember'being movable by said lever" to selectively cover anduncover" said indicia' in: accordance with the position of said switch.

2'. A switch' position indicator as defined in claim 1' in which saidindicia is-fluorescent.

3. A'switch position indicator adapted to be placed over the faceplateof a standard lever type household light switch comprising a flatrectangular holder member having an elongated rectangular centeraperture for" receiving the switch-lever, saidholder member having-holespositioned to coincidewitlr the screw holesinsaid faceplate,

the longer edges of said holder member being folded over to providespaced channels, arectangularsliden member having a centrally locatedrectangular aperture of such dimensions as to closely engage the base ofthe lever of said switch, the edges of the longer sides of said slidermember being retained in said spaced channels, indicia on a portion ofone of said: members, said slider member being movable by said lever toselectively expose said indicia in accordance with the--positiemof saidswitch.

Crockett Mar. 15, 1927 Winkler .Dec. 15, 1953 Peretti July 5} I955

